Abstract: A device is presented comprising a multi-layer structure with a plurality of metal islands on the surface of a solid transparent substrate. The islands are coated by an ultrathin sol-gel derived silica film via self-assembled monolayer.

Abstract: A device is presented having reversibly changeable and optically readable optical properties. The device comprises a substrate having an electrically conductive surface and carrying a redox-active layer structure. The redox-active layer structure may be a monolayer or a multi-layer structure and is configured to have at least one predetermined electronic property including at least one of electrodensity and oxidation state. The electronic property of the layer structure defines an optical property of the structure thereby determining an optical response of the structure to certain incident light. This at least one electronic property is changeable by subjecting the redox-active layer structure to an electric field or to a redox-active material. The device thus enables effecting a change in said electronic property that results in a detectable change in the optical response of the layer structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to analogs of thymic humoral factor .gamma.2 (THF-.gamma.2) having at least 4 amino acid residues and corresponding to the sequence of THF-.gamma.2 of the formula I:Leu-Glu-Asp-Gly-Pro-Lys-Phe-Leu Ibut differing therefrom by addition, deletion or substitution of one or more amino acid residues, or by cyclization, or by linkage of two or more sequences (I) or modified sequences (I) either directly or through a peptidic or non-peptidic chain.The THF-.gamma.2 analogs of the invention and the functional derivatives and salts thereof are for use as immunomodulatory in pharmaceutical compositions.